4 Koreans nabbed for human trafficking

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga -- Joint operatives of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) at the Clark Freeport in this province and Task Force Against Illegal Recruitment composed of CIDG operatives nabbed four Korean nationals for illegal recruitment and human trafficking July 20.

In his report to Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan, regional director Heranio Manalo identified the four Korean nationals only through their aliases as Ricky Jung, Rich Shin, Ivan and Elvin.

The four Koreans were also working in the country without permits, according to Manalo.

He said 15 Filipino women who were recruited by the group to work as singers and dancers in Korea were rescued.

The Koreans and the 15 Filipino women were taken to the office of the Task Force Against Illegal Recruitment under the Office of the Vice President at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Charges of large-scale illegal recruitment and trafficking in persons are being readied against the Koreans based on the complaint-affidavits of the rescued victims.
The immigration bureau is also set to file charges against the Koreans for violation of immigration laws.

Manalo said the Koreans were apprehended in various locations in Angeles City: two of them at the Yoojin Travel and Tours Office along the Friendship Highway, and the two others at Sunset Estate, Palace Hotel in Barangay Anunas and at a “safehouse” at Timog Park.

“This is a major accomplishment of Immigration Area 2 under the regionalization program’ implemented by Commissioner Libanan,” Manalo said.

Libanan has effected the arrest of the Koreans for their continued violations of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, as amended.

The bureau’s Area 2 office acted on information on the illegal operations of the group which processed applicants at the Yoojin Travel and Tours and then brought them to a training center in Aduas Norte, Cabanatuan City while waiting for their tourist visas before being deployed to Korea.

The arresting officers were identified as SPO1 Henry Bertillo and PO1 Junvy Camero of the Task Force Against Illegal Recruitment, and Eric Anthony Gan and Lucito Mercado of BI-Clark.

Last month, human trafficking charges were also filed against two Malaysian nationals who were apprehended while escorting three Filipino women out of the country.